Mercer U Law Grad McDaniel Faces Death Penalty If Convicted in Slaying of Classmate Lauren Giddings

A Georgia prosecutor said in a Bibb County court filing today that he intends to seek the death penalty if Mercer University law graduate Steven McDaniel is convicted in the June dismemberment killing of his classmate Lauren Giddings.

McDaniel, 26, has been jailed since July 1, following the slaying of Giddings days earlier, and he was indicted on Nov. 15 on one count of murder,the Macon Telegraph reports. Her dismembered torso was found June 30 in a garbage container outside the apartment building in which both she and McDaniel lived.

Her family supports District Attorney Greg Winters’ decision to seek McDaniel’s execution. His lawyer, Floyd Buford, could not be reached for comment by the newspaper.

Additional and related coverage

ABAJournal.com: “Report: Law Grad Charged in Classmate Murder May Have Fantasized About Avoiding Prison for Slayings”

ABAJournal.com: “Suspect in Killing of Mercer Law Grad Had Talked of a Perfect Murder, Police Say”